Pork
classicLong-simmered with belly, the root goes powdery and takes the fat.
vegetablestarchy · crisp · earthy · clean · mildly sweet
Lotus root
The only vegetable with a floor plan. Slice it thin and you are selling the holes, not the flesh.
on its own
0.0sour
2.0sweet
1.0savoury
0.0bitter
1.0umami
Black vinegar
classicMalty acid on starch crunch; the standard cold Sichuan treatment.
Osmanthus
classicStuffed with glutinous rice, glazed in the syrup. Crunch, starch and flower in one slice.
Soy sauce
commonSalt goes straight through the channels and seasons the middle.
Sesame oil
commonFat clings inside the holes where a thin dressing would run out.
Sichuan pepper
commonNumbing tingle over an otherwise very literal-minded crunch.
Rice
uncommonStuff the channels with glutinous rice, steam, slice. Structure as recipe.
Chilli oil
uncommonSediment lodges in the holes; every slice is pre-seasoned.
Dashi
uncommonSimmered in kombu stock it stops being crunchy and turns silky.
Longan
rareCrunch and starch under soft fruit, stewed until the sugar gets into the holes.
Wood ear
rareTwo crunches, no flavours. The dish is entirely about the noise.
Date
wildDried fruit sugar and starch channels: dessert built out of a root.